Rangers-Rockies Preview

After their lowest-scoring effort at home in almost 10 months, the Colorado Rockies look to bounce back with their usual lofty run support for early-season ace Jordan Lyles.

Lyles might need that kind of production as he attempts to snap a six-start losing streak against the Texas Rangers.

The surprising right-hander will try to extend his unbeaten start to the season Monday night in the first of four straight meetings.

While the Rockies (19-14) lead the majors with 5.6 runs per game, 44 home runs and a .298 average, they've been especially prolific with 7.4 runs, 28 homers and a .343 average at Coors Field.

Colorado, however, failed to put up at least two runs Sunday for the first time in 46 home games dating to last season in a 5-1 loss to the New York Mets that snapped a three-game winning streak.

The Rockies had eight hits off Dillon Gee and three relievers, scoring their only run on Justin Morneau's ninth-inning homer. Charlie Blackmon is batting .422 at Coors after going hitless in four at-bats, while Troy Tulowitzki, batting a major league-best .591 at home, was given the day off.

"Anytime you can hold that lineup, in this ballpark, to no runs over six, you're doing something right," New York's David Wright said of Gee's performance.

With Tulowitzki expected to be in the lineup, the Rockies will try to get back on track in the first of two at home against the Rangers (17-14) before the teams play two more in Arlington on Wednesday and Thursday.

Lyles (3-0, 2.70 ERA), one of four Colorado hurlers ranking in the majors' top 15 in run-support average at 6.38, has allowed three earned runs in his last three starts overall and one earned run over 13 2/3 innings in two outings at hitter-friendly Coors.

Lyles will try to win a career-best fourth straight decision after limiting Arizona to one run and three hits over six innings in Wednesday's 5-4, 10-inning road loss. But he's posted an 11.69 ERA while allowing 45 hits and 13 walks during a five-start losing streak against the Rangers.

Texas will try to continue that trend after scoring its season high on 14 hits Sunday in a 14-3 victory that gave the team a road series win over the Los Angeles Angels.

Prince Fielder, who came in batting .209, had his first three-hit game with the Rangers, while Adrian Beltre snapped out of a 1-for-17 slump with three hits. Beltre owns a .399 average with 16 home runs in 58 career games at Coors.

Shin-Soo Choo, who is 7 for 13 in the first three games of the trip, went 6 for 9 with a homer and three RBIs in his last two in Colorado while with Cincinnati in 2013.

"We may not put up that many runs every day, but we certainly be more consistent," manager Ron Washington said. "It was throughout the lineup, which is what we need."

The left-hander will try to cool off Nolan Arenado as he faces Colorado for the first time. Arenado extended his hit streak to 24 games with a fourth-inning double Sunday, leaving him three shy of Michael Cuddyer's team record set last season.

Colorado has won six of the last seven home meetings with the Rangers.

Regular Season Series

Research Notes

Jordan Lyles has allowed a .276 slugging percentage in at-bats to end in his fastball this year, the fourth-lowest rate among qualifiers. The Texas Rangers have slugged .370 in at-bats to end in a righty fastball, the third-worst mark in baseball.

From Elias: Through 14 games at Coors Field this season, Troy Tulowitzki has a .596 average, .667 on-base percentage and 1.106 slugging percentage. Each of those ranks among the top five in modern MLB history over a player's first 14 home games of a season, with the average the highest ever. Of note, only Barry Bonds in 2004 posted a higher on-base percentage through his first 14 home games (.759).